Russia has claimed one of the most inaccessible
areas on Earth with a feat of magnificent science and engineering that
tests international law, explores hitherto unexplored geography and
territory, and asserts the Kremlin’s power in an old-fashioned land
grab.
Two
minisubmarines planted a titanium alloy Russian flag on the ocean
surface, 4261 m under the Arctic Ocean surface at the North Pole. It is
the first time the technical feat of reaching the North Pole sea floor
in a manned craft has been achieved and is not only a sign of Russian
strength, but a clear indication of the fact that Russia wants to claim
the possibly resource rich area. The submersibles were named Mir-1 and Mir-2 – clearly Russia has a penchant for calling their scientific explorer craft Mir.
